How are suspected violations of law or UC policy reported (whistleblower)?

Resources

UCI Whistleblower Page UC Whistleblower Overview UC Whistleblower FAQ's
How to File a Whistleblower Complaint Standards of Ethical Behavior (Ethics Point) UC Whistleblower Hotline
UC Whistleblower Policies and Procedures UC Campus Whistleblower Resources American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)

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About Whistleblower Policies and Procedures

Employees and others are encouraged to use guidance provided by the Whistleblower policy for reporting all allegations of suspected improper governmental activities. While the scope of this policy is intended to be limited to the statutory definition of improper governmental activities, serious or substantial violations of University policy may constitute improper governmental activities determined upon review or investigation.

About "Improper Governmental Activities"



  • Violations of any state or federal law or regulation
  • Corruption, bribery
  • Theft or fraud
  • Misuse or economic waste of UC property
  • Gross misconduct, gross incompetence, or gross inefficiency
  • Sexual harassment or discrimination
  • Research or scientific misconduct
  • Environment issues
  • Health and safety issues



WAYS TO PREVENT LIABILITY

To facilitate the proper handling of whistleblower complaints:   

  • Keep accurate notes
  • Note date of any conversations
  • Document exactly what was said
  • Record who the issue was reported to
  • Err on the side of upward reporting if in doubt 

Common Whistleblower and Fraud Questions

Definitions

A Whistleblower is an individual who exposes any kind of information or activity that is deemed a violation of policy or law.

Whistleblower facilitates reporting suspected unlawful acts such as corruption, bribery, theft or misuse of university property, fraudulent claims, fraud, coercion, willful omission to perform duty; or economic waste; or gross misconduct, gross incompetence or gross inefficiency; or any condition that may significantly threaten the health or safety of employees or the public either orally or in writing using the dedicated reporting mechanisms.

Whistleblower Protection Policy describes the complaint resolution process that is available to employees and applicants for employment who believe they have been subjected to retaliation as a result of having made a Protected Disclosure or refused to obey an Illegal Order. Employees must file their complaints with a Sworn Statement within 12 months of the actions believed to be retaliatory.